Basketball from a fan’s
perspective
Yesterday
This is a follow up to the article on Kansas
basketball yesterday, reading yesterday’s Words eye view many might believe I
have a vendetta against Bill Self and his program. I have issues with Self, but it revolves
around his anti Mizzou posture he and many others have long exhibited since
2011. Why the animosity toward Mizzou, I
believe its origin is the decision to leave the Big 12 Conference for the
SEC. A large payday was a portion of why
Mizzou left for the SEC and is the basis for the grudge.
Those on the Kansas side can offer all the
excuses they desire but that is my belief.
At the same time am I on the NCAA side regarding the issues facing Kansas
basketball? I can state an emphatic NO,
the NCAA has been more wrong than right in several instances I could cite over
the years. Calm down, don’t take
yesterday’s column as evidence of a personal bias toward Kansas
basketball. If you remember I stated my confusion,
why Self would even be involved in this type of impropriety. Kansas basketball and the coach have a
worldwide footprint.
Did you miss this?
A portion of the conference call among NBA
players was largely overlooked. Then again,
I wonder how serious the conversation was about starting a “new” league. To say it and then follow through is an
entirely different matter. It might
appear some were looking at the startup of the XFL and other leagues in recent
years as a model. Have they checked out
the big picture, none of these startups are in operation today, the reason
$$$$$?
I have no desire to criticize their intentions
if true but there is a great deal more required than to just say, “We need a
new league.” Allow us briefly to check
out a few of the distant past, keep in mind the startups managed to remain operating
only after a merger. The American
landscape is littered with the carcasses of defunct franchises in several
sports, the four below are just the few I could think of without much
research. It sounds good to be your own
boss however it takes a great deal of work and $$$$$ to accomplish the task.
American Football League 1960 merge in 1970
with the NFL
American Basketball Association 1967-1976 four
teams merged with the NBA
World Hockey Association 1971-1979 four teams
merged with the NHL
United States Football League 1982-1986
It is always an even number
If you check out each of the professional
sports leagues there is always an even number.
The NBA has 30 teams, the NFL 32 teams while baseball has 30. Where is this discussion headed, the NBA will
return to Seattle one day? The NBA with 31 teams would add a second team to balance the number, what team becomes the 32nd franchise? We can
only speculate on expansion, should a team choose to relocate is an
unknown. As this is written there is at
least one team reported to be entertaining a move but its only
speculation.
There are numerous candidates to consider, my
hometown Kansas City is at the top of the list.
No need of detailing the why’s and wherefores’ I will just leave it
there. Louisville is another city often
mentioned as an expansion candidate along with Albuquerque New Mexico. We could include Richmond and Virginia Beach;
the two cities are not close however possibly near enough an NBA franchise
could draw fans from both areas. Mexico
City is on a list due to its population, financial clout and same time zone as
U.S. cities. It is my view alone the NBA
will never return to St. Louis, Cincinnati, or Buffalo three cities which once
had teams in the NBA.
Mizzou Big Man
Below you will note YouTube video of Mizzou Big Man Jordan Wilmore in action. Wilmore a 7-foot-2-245-pound centers game
appears to reflect that of an Ol Skool Big Man.
Keep in mind this is action of Wilmore in high school because that is
all we have for now, but his game appears to be a throwback to an earlier
period. Although he looks good Wilmore is not likely to
see a great deal of time on the court as a freshman. The center position belongs to 6 foot 10
Jeremiah Tilmon however there is a question.
There is a question of depth at the center
position, Tilmon has been foul prone at times.
7-foot center Alex Okongo has transferred although he saw little time
last season. As this is written there could
be a depth problem, should foul prone Tilmon become glued to the bench. Coach Martin might depend on the trifecta of
Wilmore, Parker Braun, and Mitchell Smith to fill the void. Who knows, we might all be fooled Wilmore
might impress immediately and gain valuable playing time as a freshman. The Mizzou faithful hopes for a winning
season regardless of who is on the floor.
